Bearing



RICHARD J. DEARIBORN,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF PLAN DOME, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ALBERT KINGSBURY,

" OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

BEARING.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 11, 1922,

Application filed Hovember'13, 1917. Serial No. 201,762.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD J. DEAR- BORN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Plandome, Nassau County, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bearings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings; forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to bearings, and par ticularly to thrust bearings of the general type disclosed in Kingsbury Patents Nos.

' 947,242, 1,117,499, etc, and it has for one object to provide a simple and durable bearing structure which comprises rotatable, interengaging or interconnected sets of shoes mounted to tilt both radially and circum-- ferentially with respect to the axis of the bearing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bearing which comprises a floating structure employing a plurality of sets of interconnected or interengaging tiltablymounted shoes, the shoes of each set being mounted to tilt both radially and circumferentially with respect to the axis of the bearing and independently of the shoes of the other set.

Another object of my invention is to providea floating bearing member comprising a shoe cage and bearing shoes arranged in pairs, with the shoes of each pair mounted back to back in inter-engaging tiltable relation.

In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood I will now proceed to describe the same in the following specification, by reference to two embodiments thereof, and then point out the novel features thereof in appended claims. The invention, however, is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, only two of which are shown on the accompanying drawings, and it is to be expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be con: strued as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partially sectional elevation I of a thrust bearing arranged and constructed A partial. plan view of is shown in Figure 2.

Figures 3 and 4 show respectively a bottom plan View of one ofthe shoes in the top row and a top plan view of one of the cooperating shoes in the bottom row.

I Figure 5 shows a partially sectional elevation of the shoes developed into a single plane.

Figure 6 is a view, corresponding to Figure 1, of a horizontal shaft bearing which constitutes an embodiment of my invention.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive: 1O designates a shaft to which the thrust block 11 is afiixed. In the form shown, the shaft extends through a suitable opening in a base 12 which is provided with a thrust bearing surface 13. Said base also carries a sleeve 14 which loosely surrounds the shaft 10 and an outer annular wall or flange 15 which cooperates with the sleeve 14 in forming an annular oil chamber 16. The thrust block 11 has an annular bearing the same bearing surface 17 which is opposed to the bearing posite the bearing surfaces and is shown as joined to the sleeve 14 at the to ,the parts being so arranged that an annu ar oil passage 38 is formed. The base 12 has radial apertures constituting oil passages 39 which connect the outer part of the oil chamber 16 with the annular oil passage 38.

Between the surfaces 13 and 17 is interposed abearing structure 18 with which my invention is particularly concerned. In the form shown, this structure comprisesa cage 19 having a web 20 in which are a plurality ofspaced holes 21, and on which are flanges 22 and 23. Extending outwardly beyond the flange 22*area plurality of lugs 24 which are adapted to rest on a led geor shelf 25 having the form of an annular projection from the outer wall 15 of the base.

The bearing member 18 in addition to the cage 19 comprises a plurality of bearing shoes 26 and 27 which are arranged in pairs as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5. Each pair of shoes is like the others and it is only necessary to describe one. Each shoe 26, as shown in Figure 3, has a lug or projection 28 having a spherical recess 29 formed therein and each shoe 27 (see Fig.

4) has a spherical projection or lug 30 which is adapted to fit into the recess 29 so that each shoe is tiltably mounted on the other shoe of the 7 pair.

The cooperating projections extend through the holes 21 in the cage and space the shoes from each other and from the ca e. I v a The shoes are held'loosely between the flanges22 and 230f the cage, and, furthermore, the cage is provided with axially extending lugs 31 and 32 which fit loosely between the shoes at the corners and prevent them from having any substantial "trans verse movement independently of the cage. They also keep the shoes in their proper relative positions. 7

When the beari-ngis inoperation, the shoes are adapted to tilt freely with reference to each other in circumferential or tangential directions relatively to the axis of the bearing, so as to assume relatively\ angular positions for maintaining automatic lubrication between the bearing surfaces of thashoes and the adjacent annular bearing surfaces 13 and 17 with which they cooperate. Each shoe is also free to tilt in radial directions relatively to the axis of the bearing with respect to its associated mate and with respect to the bearing surface with which it cooperates so as to maintain uniformity of bearing engagementover the entire width of the bearing members, even when one or both of those members become unequally heated at their inner and outer zones and assume the form of a frustoconical surface of low altitude, or become outward, but moreoil is crowned as it is sometimes termed. At' the same time the bearing member 18 as a" whole is free to rotate about the axis of the shaft, and consequently if it is assumed for example that the shaft is rotating at 1000 revolutions per minute and that the base is stationary, the member 18 will rotate at approximately 500 revolutions per minute so that the speed difference at each of thebearing surfaces 13 and 17 corresponds to a speed of 500 instead of a speed of 1000 revolutions perminute. The advantages of such an arrangement are apparent and evidently the bearing'is particularly well adapted for use with members rotating at high speed.

In order that the bearing surfaces may be automatically lubricated, it is necessaryto sup ly the spaces between the shoes with 011. TlllS mav be accomplished in any suitable wav, but if the chamber; 16 .is filled 'sufiicientlv to flood the upper bearingsurface '17 this result will be-obtained in the structure illustrated. When the bearingis 1n operation ,I the rotation 0f thebearing ,member 18 tends to throw the oil radiallv the passages 39, 38 and 37 with there-- supplied through sult that a. circulation of oil is established. This preventslocal heating of the oil and in fact tends to reduce the temperature of the body of oil.

. In Figure '6'my invention is shown embodied in a bearing fora horizontal shaft, like parts being designated by the same reference characters as in the previous figures.

form shown, the shoe cage 20 which holds the shoes 26 and 27 in place 7 is rotatively mounted in a bearing member or partition 40 having one or more axial passages 42 thereinto provide for circulation of the oil, said circulation being substantially as indicated by the arrows in Figurefi. The oil is thrown radially outward by centrifugal action and returns through the passages 39 to the annular space orpassage surrounding the shaft at the inner side .of the bearing member, whence it again flows to the bearing surfaces. The shoes may be formed and mounted in interengaging or interconnected pairs 'in a v'arlety of ways, to provide for a tilting movement between the same, without departingfrom the spirit of my invention. Reference istherefore to be had to the a pended claims for a definition of the limlts of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A hearing comprising opposed thrust ion surfaces and an interposed movable bearmg structure ,comprlsmg a pair of bearing shoes each of which istiltably mounted on the other and has a thrust surface -1n engagement with one of faces. L Y

2. A'bearing comprising opposed bearing surfaces, an ,;.interposed movable bearing structure-comprising a plurality of bearmg shoes arranged in intergaging pairs with their respective bearing surfaces in en agement with said first-named bearing sur aces, and means for maintaining the pairs of shoes in a predetermined relation.

3: A bearingcomprising opposed bearing surfaces, an interposed movable bearing structure comprising a plurality of bearing shoes arranged in pairs, and means'for maintainin g'thepairs of shoes in a predetermined relation, the shoes of .each pair being tiltably mounted the one on the other.

4. A' hearing comprising opposed bearing said first-named surstructure comprising a plurality of bearing shoes arranged in intergaging pairs, and a rotatable annular cage for maintaining the pairs of shoes in position without inter- 5 fering with their tilting in operation.

5. A hearing comprising opposed bearing surfaces, an interposed movable bearing structure comprising a plurality of bearing shoes arranged in pairs, and a rotatively mounted perforated annular cage, said shoes having cooperating projections which extend through the perforations of the cage.

6. A bearing comprising opposed thrust bearing surfaces and 'an interposed movable hearing structure comprising a rotatable cage having spaced holes therethrough and a plurality of bearing shoes having cooperating projections and arranged in pairs with the projections extending through the holes in the cage, the shoes of each pair being 'tiltably mounted the one on the other.

7. A bearing comprising opposed thrust surfaces and an interposed movable bearing structure comprising a pair of bearing shoes each of which is mounted on the other to tilt both radially and ci'rcumferentially with respect to the axis of the bearing.

8. A hearing comprising opposed bearingsurfaces and an interposed movable bearing 0 structure comprising a pair of interengaging bearing shoes pivotally mounted for tiltmg movement with respect to each other.

9. A hearing comprising opposed bearing surfaces and an interposed movable bearing structure comprising a pair of interconnected bearing'shoes pivotally mounted to tilt With' respect to each other both radially and 'circumferentially with respect to the axis of the bearing.

10. A bearing comprising opposed bearing surfaces and an interposed -movable bearing structure comprising two sets of bearing shoes engaging the respective bearing surfaces and interengaged in pairs to 4 5 tilt independently.

11. A bearing comprising opposed hearing surfaces and an interposed movable bearing structure comprising two sets of bearing shoes engaging the respective bearing surfaces and interengaged inpairs to tilt independently both radially and circumferentially with respect to the axis of the bearing. I

12. A hearing comprising opposed thrust surfaces and an interposed movable bearing structure. comprising two sets of bearing shoes engaging the respective thrust surfaces and interengaged in pairs to tilt independently with respect to each other.

- 13. A hearing. comprising opposed thrust surfaces and an interposed movable bearing structure comprising two sets of bearing shoes engaging the respective thrust surfaces and interengaged in pairs to tilt 05 independently with respect-to each other lindrical outer bearing for surfaces and an interposed movable bearing structure comprising a pair of bearing shoes interconnected to tilt with respect to each other both radially and circumferentially with respect to the axis of the bearing.

17. A thrust bearing comprising relatively rotatable bearing members having opposed bearing surfaces, an interposed movable bearing member, and means. for rotatively supporting the interposed bearing member at its outer periphery.

18. A thrust bearing comprising relatively rotatable bearing members having opposed bearing surfaces, an interposed movable bearing member. and a stationary c the interposed bearing member having axial oil passages therethrough.

19. The combination with a horizontal thrust bearing, of a receptacle for the lubricant located below said bearing, and a partition adapted to separate the periphery of said hearing from said receptacle, the inner side of said bearing being in open oil-admitting communication with said receptacle.

20. The combination with a horizontal thrust bearing, of a receptacle for the lubricant located below said bearing, the periphery of said bearing being separated from the said receptacle, while the inner side of said bearing is in open oil-admitting communication with the receptacle through passages.

21. The combination with a horizontal thrust bearing, of a receptacle for the lubricant, a partition located between and adapted to separate the periphery of said hearing from said receptacle, and oil-inlet passages adapted to communicate the inner side of said bearing with the receptacle.

22. The combination with a horizontal thrust bearing, of a receptacle for the lubricant, a partition adjacent the periphery of said bearing and between the same and said receptacle, and oil-inlet passages between said receptacle and the inner side of said bearing.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set myhand this 12th da of November, 1917.

RIOHAR J. DEARBORN, 

